http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE9XnX7WRog

Mike and I have been World Vision sponsors for 17 years now. You can make a difference in the life of a child impacted by HIV/AIDS by sponsoring a HOPE child through World Vision. Here is a link to my Child Ambassador page. If you have questions, ask! I love to talk about World Vision.

http://tiny.cc/LouanneMason

Click the photo above to see the entire album.

Last month Mike and I attended the Texas Scottish Rite Treasure Street Sponsor party. They invite everyone who sponsors at a certain level and up. Then the big fundraising event is later this week.  They did such an amazing job on Amelie’s hand this spring and since the hospital is free for Texas residents we felt we should sponsor and support this wonderful place! We arrived, were given name badges and then were put in tour groups. They took us to the day surgery area where Amelie went and did a presentation about lengthening a young girl’s leg. It was AMAZING! Mike took photos and they are all in the photo album.

Then we heard from some of the doctors that run the neurology department.

From there we saw the motion science department that help children with Cerebral palsy (CP) and other walking issues. They even had a teen in the motion capture gear, which was very cool.

Then they had music and food out in the main atrium.

Such a cool dessert set up and they had a little taco bar and carving station. The people who cook for the hospital cafeteria did all of the catering for the event and it was great!

(this is King Snoopy, just for fun)

Click the photo above to see all the photos.

This year we hosted the 5 Texas families from our travel group over the weekend of July 22nd. (we invited everyone else, but it didn’t work out. We saw the Hatcher’s in GA on our road trip, so we actually spent time with 6 families this year) That was our 4 year Gotcha Day anniversary and it was a delight to spend it with some of our travel mates. Michael, Lisa and Angelina stayed with us and we all had a great time. They came a day early so we hit the Fort Worth Science and History Museum in the morning. The girls had a blast! Check out the giant light bright.

That night we had everyone over for some pulled pork and other goodness. It was a relaxed time for the girls to play and get to know each other again. Click the photo below to see the album from that day.

The next day we met up at the zoo in the morning. It was BLAZING hot, but we had a great time. It delighted my heart to see the girls playing and having a great time together! Us parents are like the paparazzi with the kiddos. Now on to the photos!

We headed back in the afternoon for naps (or for some – shopping!) In the evening we met at the hotel for a pizza and pool party. The girls had a good time to play and the parents had more time to visit also.

It was a wonderful weekend and such fun to see how big the girls are getting! Thanks for joining us everyone. And to those who missed, we wished you could have been with us too.

Click the photo above to see the whole album. (lots of photos in this one)

This was by far our busiest day on our trip. We got up early and ate breakfast at the Spring House Family restaurant. Then we stopped at Walmart to buy an umbrella stroller and more sunscreen. We also found Batman and Superman shirts for the girls which thrilled Nadia to death! We headed over to Broadway at the beach to go to Ripley’s Aquarium. Nadia was really excited about this and wanted to get in and start looking around. They had a special shark exhibit which was really cool.

This cracked me up!

After the aquarium we walked around the boardwalk to have lunch at Amici’s Italian restaurant. We stopped to feed the fish and Nadia laughed at them jumping on each other to try and get the food.

We made our way to We R Sweets to buy 57 pounds of salt water taffy and then let the girls play outside on the dinosaurs.

We also went in a store called “It’s Sugar” which had the best sign ever!

The girls were asleep before we got out of the parking lot.

We gave them a real nap at the condo and then headed to PF Changs with everyone else for dinner. That is when the call came about water pouring out of our house. Dinner was wonderful as always, but I was busy texting and making calls trying to get things figured out.

Here we are after dinner with no idea what condition our house was in

This years VBS was Summer Seaquest about Jonah and the whale. We were only able to go at the beginning of the week, but Nadia had a great time in her class.

Craft time.

I peeked in and took some photos of Nadia in her class.

After VBS we went to lunch with Jeanette and her boys who are visiting for the week. It was so fun to see how big the kids got. My friend Kyla and her kids joined us too and it was a sweet time to catch up.

God Bless and keep all the members of our military.

Click the photo above to see the whole album.

My mom came to visit last weekend and had a great time. The photo above is my favorite of the weekend. Nadia was watching Nonnie pack for the trip home and then needed to bring her bags too. This was right before we got in the car to go to the airport. When my mom arrived on Friday it was a play fest for her and Nadia. For dinner we headed to Pappasito’s (of course) and then a little more play time before bed.

On Saturday we headed for Central Market for my mom to buy supplies to make homemade marinara. YUM! It was awesome and our spaghetti and meatball dinner fueled us up for the trick or treating that night. The play continued on Sunday and I think that they found every “little people” in the house.

We also did arts and crafts on Sunday.

Nadia took every opportunity to play with Nonnie and even jumped on her which was quite a surprise

I am so glad that my mom had a chance to come out and spend the weekend with us.